Wolf Lake State Forest is a reforestation area of 4,316 acres. It was purchased by the state in the 1950’s and 60’s to return idle and abandoned farmlands to productive use as a source of timber and to provide land for public recreation.

The northeast part of this area, accessible by an extension of the Sam Day Road, was farmed by the Reed family. The Reed brothers had a sizable maple sugar operation on this tract in the early 1900’s. Local people still refer to this section as the “Reed Ranch”.

The southwest part of the Wolf Lake State Forest, accessible by the old Talcville-Emeryville Road is known locally as the “Clark Farm”, referring to the family which last farmed it. Old roads which once serviced the two farms provide vehicular access to the Wolf Lake State Forest.

The interior portion of the area between the “Reed Ranch” and “Clark Farm” is accessible only by the network of hiking trails as described below. This remote section was probably logged in the late 1800’s and early 1900’s. Much of the interior was also altered by fire during the same period. Bare rock and stands of native red and white pine at higher elevations and stands of hardwood trees between the ridges are the result of these disturbances.

Some trails and lean-to’s in the interior were constructed by the Youth Conservation Corps, which now maintains the trail system for the DEC.